Combined buffer and snubber



Jan. 5,1926. v 1,568,119 D. L. WOLF COMBINED BUFFER AND SNUBBER Filed August 13, 1924 Patented 5, 1926.

v 1 1,568,119 PATENT OFFICE.

DAVIS L. WOLF, OF ARCHER COUNTY, TEXAS.

COMBINED BUFFER AND SNUBBER.

Application filed August 13, 1924. Serial No. 731,801.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known thatI, DAVIS L. WOLF, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Archer, State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined'Buffers and Snubbers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined buffer and snubber.

' The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient device designed for use on cars andadapted to operate as a buifer to check excessive downward movement and also as a snubber to resist a shock, excessive upward movement or rebound, and capable when the car is running over reasonably smooth roads of permitting independent operation of the leaf spring of the car and of remaining inactive during such normal action of the leaf spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined buffer and snubber of this character which will not stifi'en or affect the operation of the leaf spring of the car during the normal operation thereof and which will be brought into operation only by excessive upward and downward movement of the body of the car to reinforce the leaf spring of the car and prevent the same from breaking and at the same time render riding in the car more comfortable.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion f a Ford automobile equipped with a combined bufier and snubber constructed in ac W cordance with this invention.

, Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same taken transversely of the leaf spring and the axle.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a combined clip and attaching plate.

- In the accompanying drawingin which 5 is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates an inverted conical coiled spring having coils successively decreased in diameter from the upper to the lower end of the coil spring in order to telescope or fit one within the other when the spring is compressed so that when the spring operates as a bufier as hereinafter described, the coils will not come in contact with one another and become injured when the spring would otherwise be subjected to a crushing pressure. The. upper end of the coiled spring is secured to the transverse leaf spring 2 and to the member 3 by means of a combined. attaching and clipplate 4: and a U-bolt 5, the clip plate which is substantially oblong, extends transversely of the spring 2 and the member 3 and is provided with upturned marginal edges '6 curved to conform to the configuration of the upper end of the spring 1 and receiving the upper coil thereof as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The upper coil fits snugly within theupturned flanges 6 and the second coil which is contiguous to the lower face of the plate 4, is ofadiameter considerably less than the length of the said plate 4 so that there is no liability of the second coil accidentally slipping over the plate and the spring is securely interlocked at its upper end with the plate and 85 the upturned flanges thereof. The U-bolt straddles the member 3 and extends through perforations 7 of the plate 4: and is threaded at the lower terminals of its sides to receive .nuts 8, which engage the lower face of the plate 4-. By this construction, the device is securely fastened to the member Sand the leaf spring 2 and may be easily and quickly applied to an ordinary car without necessitating any alteration in the construction thereof.

The lower end of the spring is extended diametrically across the lower coil to form a transverse diametrically disposed terminal portion 9 over which is looped a strap 10 having a buckle 11, for adjusting its length. The terminals of the straps are connected by the buckle to form a loop which also encircles the axle 12 of the car and loosely receives the same as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The loop formed by the strap extends below the axle and the spring which is located above and is spaced from the axle a proximately the distance the strap exten s below the axle when the leaf spring 2 is in its normal condition. This arrangement renders the device inoperative while the leaf spring 2 is functioning under ordinary load conditions where the roadway is comparatively smooth and the leaf spring of the vehicle then operates independently of the device to cushion the body 13 of the vehicle. The leaf spring is thus unaffected and not stiffened by the device which is brought into operation only by excessive upward and downward movement of the body of the ve hic'le. When the body moves downwardly excessively and the leaf spring 2 and the axle come together, the coiled spring 1 which is located directly above the axle will be carried into engagement with the same and it will operate as a buffer to check the excessive downward movement of the body of the vehicle and reinforce the leaf spring 2 and prevent the same from breaking under the strain and at the same time render riding comfortable. In event of an excessive upward movement, due to rebound of the leaf spring, the strap will catch the axle 12 and the spring 1 will be distended and will-operate to check such excessive upward movement of the body and will reinforce and as sist the leaf spring 2 in such operation and prevent injury to the leaf spring and also render riding comfortable under such conditions. Theadjustment of the loop of the strap will enable the independent upward movement of the spring 2 to be controlled. This operation of the device to check-the upward movement of the body enables it to perform the functions of a snubber and the operation of the spring to cushion the excessive downward movement of the body in conjunction with the transverse spring 2 enables the device to operate as a buffer. It will thus be clear that the device operates both as a snubber and a buffer during the excessive upward and downward movements of the body and the spring 2 and that during the normal functioning of the spring 2 of the car. the device is inoperative or inactive and does not stiffen the spring of the car or affect in any manner the free functioning of the said spring 2. v

What is claimed is:

1. In a combined snubber and buffer, the combination with an axle and a transverse leaf spring, of a central vertical coiled spring fixed at its upper end to the leaf spring and suspended therefrom directly above and normally spaced from and out of contact with the axle and adapted to be carried into contact with the axle by excessive downward movement of the spring to act as a buffer and check such downward movement, and means loosely suspended from the lower end of the spring about the axle and unconnected with the axle and arranged to engage the axle and distend and tension the spring during excessive upward movement of the spring in rebound, said connecting means and the spacing of the spring from the axle permitting normal functioning of the spring of the vehicle independently of the coiled spring.

2. In a combined snubber and buffer, the combination with an axle and a transverse leaf spring, of av central vertical coiled spring having its upper end located at the leaf spring and arranged directly above the axle and normally spaced from the same to permit free functioning of the leaf spring under, normal conditions unaffected by the coiled spring. a combined clip and attaching plate provided with upwardly extending terminal flanges confining the upper coil of the spring between the leaf spring and said plate whereby to suspend the coiled spring from the leaf spring, means for clipping the plate to the leaf spring, and a strap connected to and depending from the lower end of the spring and forming a loop loosely receiving the axle and unconnected therewith and arranged to engage with the same to tension the spring under excessive upward movement of the leaf spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DAVIS L. WOLF. 

